All events

Glossary

Advantage ruleA rule permitting a referee to refrain from calling a foul if it appears the call would advantage the offender''s team.

BackhandA deceptive shot or pass flipped backward.

Ball underA foul called on a player for taking or holding the ball underwater when an opponent tackles the player.

BrutalityDangerously rough play, such as elbowing an opponent in the face or punching.

Centre-backA defensive player whose main task is to counter the opposition''s centre-forward.

Centre-forwardA team''s main attacking player, usually big and strong in men''s play, who takes position directly in front of the opponent''s goal between the two-metre and four-metre lines; also known as the hole man, hole set or two-metre man.

Corner throwA throw used to restart play if a defensive player touched the ball last before it went out over the goal line.

Dead timeThe time between the whistle for a foul and the restarting of play and the clock.

Dead-time foulAny foul committed during dead time.

Double dead-time foulSimultaneous fouls by both an offensive and defensive player during dead time.

Double holeAn offence using two hole sets, one in front of each post of the goal; also known as a double post.

Double postAn offence using two hole sets, one in front of each post of the goal; also known as a double hole.

DribbleTo swim with the ball.

DriveTo swim quickly into the space in front of the goal on offence without the ball.

DriverA player, usually a fast swimmer, whose main task is to move the ball into goal-scoring position.

DropA defensive strategy in which the players drop back to protect the centre of the pool and help block shots.

Dry passA pass made so that the receiver can catch it before it hits the water.

EggbeaterThe alternating leg kick used to tread water and lift players vertically out of the water.

Exclusion areaThe designated area outside the field of play where excluded players wait to return to the game.

Exclusion foulA foul serious enough that the offending player is sent to the exclusion area.

Face offA throw by a referee giving each team an equal chance to reach the ball following a stoppage where neither team was solely to blame; also called a neutral throw.

Field playerAny player other than the goalkeeper.

Four-metre foulA foul by a defensive player inside the four-metre line directly aimed at preventing a goal.

Four-metre lineAn imaginary line marked with yellow buoys four metres from each goal line.

Free throwThe standard method of restarting play after the ball crosses the sideline or after any foul that does not earn a penalty throw.

FrontTo defend between the ball and the hole set, preventing the hole set from receiving a pass.

Goal throwA throw by the defending goalkeeper to restart play if an attacking player was the last to touch the ball before it went out over the goal line.

Half-distance lineAn imaginary line marked with white buoys that divides the field of play into two equal ends.

HoldTo lift or carry the ball, press it underwater or place the hand over or under it.

Hole guardA defensive player who takes position in front of his or her own goal and guards the hole set.

Hole manA team''s main attacking player, usually big and strong in men''s play, who takes position directly in front of the opponent''s goal between the two-metre and four-metre lines; also known as the centre-forward, hole set or two-metre man.

Hole setA team''s main attacking player, usually big and strong in men''s play, who takes position directly in front of the opponent''s goal between the two-metre and four-metre lines; also known as the centre-forward, hole man or two-metre man.

ImpedingTo hinder the movement of a player not in possession of the ball.

Inside waterThe position of being in front of a defender and moving toward the goal.

Lane pressA defensive strategy where players are positioned in the passing lanes, or between the ball and the players they are guarding, instead of between the offensive players and the goal.

Live timeWhen the clock is running.

Man-downA 20-second situation for the defensive team where it plays with one less player than the offence after a defensive player commits an exclusion foul.

Man-upA 20-second situation for the offensive team where it plays with one more player than the defence after a defensive player commits an exclusion foul.

Moving pickA move by an offensive player to swim in front of a player defending another offensive player, freeing that team-mate for a pass or shot .

Neutral throwA throw by a referee giving each team an equal chance to reach the ball following a stoppage where neither team was solely to blame; also called a face off.

Ordinary foulAn infringement by a player that, in most cases, leads to the referee awarding possession of the ball to the opposing team.

Penalty foulA foul committed by a defending player within his four-metre area that is judged to have prevented a goal from being scored.

Penalty throwA throw from the four-metre line by a member of the attacking team, defended only by the goalkeeper, after a penalty foul against a defending player.

Personal foulAn exclusion foul or penalty foul recorded against a player.

PointThe position on offence that is farthest from the goal in the 12 o''clock position.

PressTo extend the defence beyond its normal range to increase the pressure on each offensive player.

SplashingAn exclusion foul for deliberately splashing water in an opponent''s face.

StallingAn ordinary foul for a team''s failure to shoot or advance the ball within 35 seconds.

Stationary pickA move by an offensive player to stop in the path of a player defending a team-mate, freeing that team-mate for a pass or shot.

Swim-offA race for the ball in the centre of the field of play to start each period.

Two-metre manA team''s main attacking player, usually big and strong in men''s play, who takes position directly in front of the opponent''s goal between the two-metre and four-metre lines; also known as the centre-forward, hole man or hole set.

Two-metre violationAn ordinary foul called when a player is inside the opponent''s two-metre line and the ball is not farther ahead.

Wet passA pass from one player to another, but designed to land in the water.

Wet shotA shot attempted while the ball is controlled in the water, usually a quick wrist shot.